Mood:
celebratoryInteresting week... After the debacle of the last few days of last week, she's been a different kid ever since. On Saturday I discovered the wonders of the wrap. My friend Jaime bought me the Ultimate Baby Wrap, which I had registered for. I had tried it a few weeks ago and Mia liked it- sort of. I popped that sucker on again while Walter was golfing, and walked kind of aimlessly around the yard. Mia was out like a light in maybe 5 minutes! So of course, I packed it to go to my parents' house.
We drove to Mom and Dad's, by way of the ice cream shop- at which point my breasts started leaking everywhere. I had milk and jimmies stuck to my shirt, which made me feel ever so attractive. We had a great dinner of steak tips, mashed potatoes, and green beans, and took turns bouncing Mia, who was a little fussbudget. Despite the fact that it was at least 95 degrees, and very muggy, I strapped her in the sling again, and walked her up and down the street and in circles in the yard. She was very relaxed, but not relaxed enough to take pity on her poor mother and sleep. I took her out of the wrap, brought her upstairs, and just laid down with her and let her nurse. To my surprise, she nursed for maybe 5 minutes, closed her eyes, and fell asleep peacefully. So did I, and it was only 8:30. Next thing I knew, it was 2:00 and she was waking up to be fed again! I just rolled over, gave her the other side, and we did that all night. I think she just needed some Mommy snuggles.
Sunday Walter went to work, so my mom and I hung around and ran errands. We went to Kohl's where I bought a pair of size 18 capri pants- something that absolutely shocked me. Can I really still be this big? And when will that go away? It was like a bad dream- a nightmare... Even the stretchy XL workout pants were too small. Mia cried in the store, so Mom held her while I tortured myself in the dressing room. After Kohl's we hit TJ Maxx, which used to be my favorite store. I found some workout stuff there, including some jumbo sports bras, and one pair of fairly decent looking capris. They may be the only thing I wear for the next month. Mia cried there too, so we called it a day and headed home, where I took a nap with Mia in the afternoon. The night went fairly smoothly until 8:30 again, when I had to pop her in her carseat and take her on the bumpy roads near the house. She likes the bumpy roads the very best, and the highway next. She hates stop signs and stop lights, and big trucks that make loud noises. She slept most of the time in the car, and woke up promptly when I brought her in the front door. Go figure. Eventually she fell asleep and had another good night.
One amazing thing that happened while we were there was that she smiled at me. Not just because I ate too much cheese and she was gassy either- I was singing and talking to her, and she smiled! I think I might have really and truly fell in love with her at that moment. That was the moment where it hit me, "Okay, this is why people do this!"
Monday Walter came to get us around noon, and we packed up the car and headed to the Wrentham Outlets to pick DeShaun up some stuff for football. He starts practices with thrice weekly lifting sessions starting June 20th. So we found him some shorts and dri-fit shirts, and me a really nice pair of long low rise workout pants. Worth every penny when you are tall like me!
We hit some nasty traffic coming back- a jack-knifed tractor trailer- so we made an unexpected stop at a rest station to feed and change Mia. Imagine me, feeding Mia with my chest hanging out, while truckers roll by! Then these two guys get out of a car with their teeny tiny wittle doggies to let them poop right near us. One guy bends over and wiped the ass of the littlest dog with a baby wipe! I found it so ironic and wanted to ask him if he preferred Pampers or Huggies wipes. I like Huggies- they're less wet and thicker. Better for handling the poopage.
We finally got home, and enjoyed another garlic chicken pizza with DeShaun, and exhaustedly, I climbed into bed with a fairly subdued Mia.
Yesterday was great... I woke up refreshed, worked out (20 minutes on the Precor!), and made myself a healthy breakfast. I got a haircut and my eyebrows done (by a sadistic waxer, the worst I have ever had) and Walter went and did a huge grocery shopping trip. Then, at about 4:30, we had a local blackout. It was about 95 degrees in the shade all day, and being inside with a sticky baby and a sticky mommy was pure misery. I thought for sure I was going to die. Plus, I was fearful for all my healthy groceries!
I called my coworkers to see if they had power, because my landlady had heard that it was the whole Northeast that was out, and both of them were fine. My friend Owen even offered for us to come over to spend the night, so I started packing. At about 8, the power finally went back on, and I have never been so happy in my life. She slept great last night... in fact, at about midnight I was lonely, so I pulled her in the bed with me and she snuggled down so cutely.
Things are getting better again!
Here is what she is supposed to be doing:
Lies flexed, like in the womb; barely lifts head while on stomach; leg and arm movement consist of uncontrolled writhing and purposeless hand opening and closing; bears no weight on legs; holds hands tightly fisted; can't hold a rattle. Makes demanding cries, grunting throaty sounds, fleeting smiles, sleep grins; discriminates parents' voices; sees best at 8-10 inches; has blurred vision; has erratic sleep and feeding schedule. Smiles involuntarily.
That's for month one, but for about 1-2 two weeks she's been doing all of the 2 month skills, which include:
Limbs relax and stretch partially; lifts head 45 degrees; head wobbly while held sitting; muscle twitches lessen; hands partially unfold; swipes aimlessly; holds rattle briefly. Coos, squeals, and gurgles; smiles responsively; shows emotions, like delight or distress; quiets self with thumb; holds eye contact; studies faces and vaguely mimics facial gestures; tracks moving persons.
And, she even has some of these three month skills, those she can do I've highlighted in red:
Stretches limbs all the way out; holds head about 45 degrees; pushes down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface; supports upper body with arms when lying on stomach; hands open, makes swiping reaches but still misses more than hits; holds and shakes rattle longer; grabs clothing and hair of others; sucks fingers and fists; plays with hands. Begins to babble, coo, squeal, and gurgle; smiles responsively; shows emotions; enjoys playing with other people and may cry when playing stops. Begins to imitate some sounds, draws out vowel sounds, such as aaah and oooh; makes louder sounds; begins to laugh.
She also does something funny... when she is crying and hungry and I place her on the bed, as soon as I unbutton my bra, she stops and looks at me. I guess she knows her food is coming!
She sleeps about 2-3 hours in the morning (usually from 8-10:30 or so), then again from noon to 2-ish, and then again from 4-6 or 7. She's a little fussy from 8-9:30, but either a shower, being rocked, being nursed, or going in the car will settle her down. The less we do during the day, the quieter she is at night. When she's not sleeping she is alert. Very alert, and seems to want to play, so I talk to her alot, kiss her all over, and make faces and sing. Sometimes we dance to her favorite songs.
Things are going very well indeed.
and yes... we are doing the Gentian Violet AGAIN. More purple nipples.
